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Norcross, GA 30093-3059

GMS Field Trip

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Trilobites!

GMS Field Trip
Lower Devonian Fossils in Tennessee
Saturday, May 23, 2015

The second day of the epic trip started at sunrise in front of a quarry in Tennessee. First we signed waivers, then listened carefully to all of the safety rules. After we donned our hardhats and steel-toed boots, quarry employees escorted the group into the quarry and directed us to the fossils. Immediately we were finding trilobite pygidiums (aka trilo-butts), crinoid stems, brachiopods, and plates loaded with bryozoans. I saw several crinoid calyxes and some unidentified specimens too. All around I kept hearing “Oh wow, look at this!” followed by “Oh wait, look at this!” Teresa Curl found a complete coral colony. There were so many superb fossils I think everyone came away with at least one prize piece.

Lori Carter
On behalf of Charles Carter, GMS Field Trip Chair
e-mail:

Click here for more information about the May 2015 epic trip
Photo by Lori Carter

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Daniel Miller got right to work
Photo by Lori Carter

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There were lots of piles to examine
Photo by Lori Carter

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Al Klatt found this nice crinoid calyx
Photo by Lori Carter

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Another view of Al's calyx
Photo by Lori Carter

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Charles found a "smiloid"
Photo by Lori Carter

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Closer look at Charles' smiley crinoid
Photo by Lori Carter

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Perry Curl found a similar curved stem
Photo by Lori Carter

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Al Klatt searched carefully...
Photo by Lori Carter

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...and found these nice trilobite pygidiums
Photo by Lori Carter

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Al found this beautiful crinoid calyx too
Photo by Lori Carter

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This is what the trilobites look like in situ
Photo by Lori Carter

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These crinoid stems have tiny pyrite cubes around them
Photo by Lori Carter

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A partial calyx in matrix
Photo by Lori Carter

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The bottom of a calyx
Photo by Lori Carter

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Teresa Curl found this perfect coral colony -- Favosites foerstei
Photo by Lori Carter

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Another view of Teresa's coral
Photo by Lori Carter

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And another view of Teresa's coral
Photo by Lori Carter

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A fantastic crinoid stem specimen with branching stems
Photo by Lori Carter

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Mickey McClain found this bryozoan(?) colony
Photo by Lori Carter

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A large blob of pyrite (or maybe marcasite)
Photo by Lori Carter

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Sponge?
Photo by Lori Carter

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Brachiopods in matrix
Photo by Lori Carter

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Trilo-butt
Photo by Lori Carter

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Another trilo-butt
Photo by Lori Carter

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Daniel's getting a few more specimens
Photo by Lori Carter

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Full house
Photo by Lori Carter

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Lizabeth McClain found this calyx
Photo by Lori Carter

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Brachiopod
Photo by Lori Carter

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Kathleen Wallis found this perfect calyx

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